HOW TO POSE FOR A PICTURE

How To Pose For A Picture

By Christine Dion
Learning how to pose in front of the camera is very important as your body position not only needs to flatter you but the clothes as well.  When you know how to pose like a model you can feel more at ease in front of the camera.

It’s best to have a variety of poses. A full body shot in something form fitting as well as a shoulders up shot taken both indoor and outdoor work best. Be sure you have good lighting. If outdoor face sun, if indoor be sure your lit. It can help the photographer if you bring magazine photos of ideas and looks you like to get you both on the same page.

Here are a few quick tips to help you strike a pose:
Relax and be natural. Take a deep breath and notice places of your body that feel tense. Beware wrinkled forehead and squinting eyes.

Know your best angle. Practice in front of the mirror. A face usually looks best with a slight angle pose so try for three quarters of your face instead of straight on. Keep your body at a slight angle to the camera as well then turn your torso towards the camera. moving slowly starting with your shoulders until you get a nice angle with your chin. The photographer will help guide the positions as you move very slowly to a flattering position.

Flattering Poses. Avoid lifting your chin too high which draws attention to the nostrils or too low which can enhance dark under eye circles, a pronounced forehead and add double chin shadows. Study in the mirror to look and feel what is most flattering.

Connect with the camera. Pretend the camera is a friend or someone you love. Show emotion and warmth in your eyes. Gaze into the camera with purpose, focus, with confidence and convey an attitude. Do your eyes smile? Do your eyes say I’m confident? Make eyes smile by tightening upper cheek muscle a bit which helps prevent crinkling at the sides of eyes. Practice by looking in the mirror and covering the lower half of your face with a piece of paper.

Avoid the “Dead Fish” eyes. It’s important to keep your eyes open but you don’t want to have a vacant stare. Look down and then with intensity up into the camera. If you begin to loose the feeling look down and then up again. This is also very helpful for when bright lights are in your eyes from reflectors or sunlight often used by the photographer to give a nice look to your skin.

Keep mouth relaxed and slightly open. Avoid lip puckering or too big a smile that distorts your face. Keep teeth softly together when you smile with lips parted. Watch for too much teeth or gums showing. Be sure to keep your jaw relaxed.

Elongate neck by pulling chin and face slightly forward then bring jawline down. This will also prevent a double chin look.

For full body shots create space with arms and legs from your body. Look at fashion magazines and notice how the models are posed. When it comes to posing your body, symmetry is out. Asymmetrical poses are much more interesting. By bending your arms and legs you can create interesting lines that draw the viewer of a photograph directly into you.

If your background is busy the focus will be on you, and if it is simple, lines will create complexity. Practice with many poses; bend your arm and place a hand on your hip while your other arm hangs naturally by your side; bend one arm upwards so that your hand is holding your shoulder; place both hands on your hip with one shoulder raised and the other lowered; place both arms behind your back, elbows out, with one shoulder raised; or pull your elbows in, place your hands on the lower back, arch your back with one leg bent and the other elongated in front of the other (this pose is great for a silhouette shot!).

Remember posture. Even though this is a head shot remember to keep good posture. Slightly lift chest up, shoulders back and align ears to shoulders.

Get more information on STYLE, POISE AND MANNERS here!